ISS crew to return to Earth amid intensive security measures
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Emerging Markets DatafileOctober 27, 2003
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MOSCOW, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) — A Russian spacecraft is scheduled to carry three astronauts from the International Space Station ( ISS) to the Earth on Tuesday. The Soyuz TMA-2 capsule is expected to land in the area of Arkalyk in Kazakhstan at 5:40 am Moscow time (0240 GMT), taking back the seventh ISS crew of Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and American astronaut Edward Lu, and a short-term Spanish visitor Pedro Duque of the European Space Agency.
The Russian-US duo have been in orbit for 184 days since they arrived at the orbiting space hub in late April, carrying out some 30 scientific experiments and maintenance of the 16-nation space station.
The scientific programs of the crew included some geophysical experiments and many medico-biological and technical studies.
Unprecedented precautions have been taken in the landing area for the upcoming landing to prevent a ballistic descent similar to what happened to an identical Russian capsule in May.
Nine rescue helicopters and three planes will be stationed in the due landing zone, with two helicopters and one plane in the estimated ballistic landing zone, Vladimir Popov, head of the aerospace search-and-rescue center said Monday.
There will also be ground rescue teams on the two areas, said Popov, adding that the crew is equipped with a satellite telecom system for easier contact with the search forces. A Russian capsule carrying home the former ISS team deviated over 400 kilometers from the target site on the ground after it landed on May 4. It took rescuers quite a time to locate the spacecraft.
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